Set pieces?

[AndSomeAreAngels]

Just played in our first Sunday League game yesterday and we gave up two goals on set pieces, as well as absolutely wasting our set-piece opportunities.

Anyone have some good set-piece plays that they'd care to share? I've been looking for some examples, and found some decent ones on thecoachingcorner.com, but I'd like a few more options. Examples with diagrams would be much appreciated.

Any general advice (defending, goalkeeping tips, etc) would be good as well.

Thanks.

[goyoureddevils]

I imagine you're going to be a bit disapointed with the response to this one... first thing is that set pieces are long winded explanations waiting to happen, and secondly what works with one age group/talent level does not work with others.

Let me give this advice though, find out who can serve a good ball consistantly... actually try to find three. They need to be able to strike a shot on goal, loft a ball to be headed or volleyed, and be able to play an accurate low pass for the trick plays. When you find them, get the three of them working all by themselves to come up with two to three options for each type of set piece. Once they have them semi-mastered, they can share them with the rest of the team at training and you as coach can start working out the timing of runs, the shape of runs, and any additional trickery that the players might introduce.

As far as defending set pieces, I have two rules: First, every player must want to get to the ball before their opponent does... this is not flowery coach speech. If you as a player are not willing to take a bruise or a bump to win a ball, you should not be playing competative soccer, that's why they have rec leagues. Second, defend from set positions rather than chasing opponents around your own penalty area.

On corners my teams line up like this - Outside Mids on the posts (one of my teams had 7 goals saved off the line this way two seasons ago), Back line across the six (better to step out away from goal to win a ball than to run back towards it), one Center Mid on the pk dot (has to be a big physical brute who will challenge EVERYTHING),the other Center Mid on the 18 even with the near post (challenges anything across or outside the 18), one Forward halfway between the "D" and the bottom of the center circle (this is the link player who wins short clearances), and the other Forward in the center circle (stretching the defense and making them worry a bit about the counter).

Every other set piece that looks like it is going to be a served ball is defended similarly by my teams. I would have changed it sometime in the last 19 years.... but dammit it has worked really well at all levels ( I have coached everything from Academy programs for 4 thru 10 year olds, all the way up to two current U23 Mens teams that are full of "A" level players).

Good luck, just keep them as simple as possible as most coaches make the mistake of over-complicating things.

[BigGuy]

Don't know your age that makes a difference.

Work on two touch indrect free kicks. Good for all AGE GROUPS.

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Also work on this

Here is a game for quick restarts after fouls when you break up the team to play against each other after regular practice, that you can do in an hour. Your the official call everything call even more stuff as the game goes on, and make up somethings to call :-) so they get annoyed with the constant stopages and crap fouls your calling in play.

So they won't relax when stopages in play happen in games on attack and on defense. So while they are arguing a call the opponent quick started play and scored.

Tell them only goals are worth a point and quick restart goals are worth 2 points. Goals off a quick restart pass or shot are woth 2 points. Praise any quick restart goal that happens in this game out loud. If you see one later in a real game go wild with praise.

I hope this helps in some way. It can't hurt.

[AndSomeAreAngels]

I imagine you're going to be a bit disapointed with the response to this one... first thing is that set pieces are long winded explanations waiting to happen, and secondly what works with one age group/talent level does not work with others.

Cheers, it's appreciated.

The zonal marking stuff was great to read. We're gonna try it at practice tonight (FWIW, we're a Sunday-league team, ranging from 23-34, with some players having just kicked a soccer ball for the first time 6 months ago, some of us having played for 20+ years).

I was mostly looking for some plays we can run on set-pieces (with diagrams if possible). I think I'll pick up a book this weekend though. Any recommendations?

[goyoureddevils]

There is a decent video out called Dutch Set Plays, and a book/video combination set called Coaching Set Plays.... I have viewed them both and would recommend them as interesting.